New Delhi:  Four new envoys on Friday presented their credentials to President Pranab Mukherjee and of them, two were persons of Indian-origin - the U.S Ambassador and the Canadian High Commissioner.

Richard Rahul Verma is the first American of Indian-origin to occupy the post, while Nadir Patel is the first Canadian of Indian-origin to do so.

Both have impressive credentials and come with considerable diplomatic and administrative experience, an indication of the importance the India posting has become in world capitals. Mr Verma and Mr Patel presented their credentials at a ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mr Verma, 46, will continue the U.S embassy's work in advancing the U.S-India strategic partnership, the U.S embassy has said.

On his arrival in India on January 2, Mr Verma, whose parents migrated from India in the 1960s, said he was looking forward to work with India on the shared goals of security, development and prosperity as he described the times as "exciting" for the ties.

At his confirmation hearing in Washington last week, Mr Verma told the Senate Foreign Relations committee that U.S President Barack Obama's "historic visit to India in January" will build on "Prime Minister Modi's highly successful visit to the United States this past September."

"There is no question that this is a defining and exciting time in the U.S-India relationship," he said. Mr Verma also acknowledged the contribution of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent and vowed to "strive to live up to the high standards they have set".

They "took a chance like my parents, who worked hard, who continue to pursue their dreams, and along the way have helped ensure India and the United States become the closest of friends and partners," he told the panel.

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Source: PTI